Rectus “wrap around” flap for salvage of an infected ascending aortic graft

An application of the rectus abdominis muscle flap to salvage an infected prosthetic graft of the ascending thoracic aorta is presented. The length of this flap along with its width and thickness allows it to be wrapped around prosthetic grafts of the ascending aorta in a spiral fashion. This rectus muscle wrap around flap method is straightforward involving the use of one muscle rather than multiple muscles. The abdominal cavity is not opened as with the use of omentum. The procedure can be accomplished in a short time which is important in the critically ill patient.     

Mechanisms of pinacidil-induced vasodilatation

The mechanism of the vasodilator effect of pinacidil was examined. Pinacidil (0.1–100 μM) inhibited the increases in cytosolic Ca²⁺ ([Ca²⁺]_i) and muscle tension due to norepinephrine in rat aorta. In contrast, a Ca²⁺ channel blocker, verapamil, inhibited the norepinephrine-stimulated [Ca²⁺]_i more strongly than the contraction. Higher concentrations of pinacidil (3–100 μM) inhibited the verapamil-insensitive portion of the contraction and [Ca²⁺]_i. An inhibitor of ATP-sensitive K⁺ channels, glibenclamide, antagonized the inhibitory effect of low concentrations ( 10 pM) of pinacidol. Pinacidil did not change the contraction induced by Ca²⁺ in vascular smooth muscle permeabilized with Staphylococcus aureus -toxin. Norepinephrine (in the presence of GTP), 12-deoxyphorbol 13-isobutyrate (in the absence of GTP), and treatment with GTP_γS potentiated the contraction of permeabilized smooth muscle induced by the addition of Ca²⁺. Pinacidil (100 μM) inhibited the potentiation due to GTP_γS or noepinephrine but not to phorbol ester. These results suggest that pinacidil has dual effects on vascular smooth muscle contraction. At lower concentrations (>0.1 μM), it decreases [Ca²⁺]_i, possibly by activating ATP-sensitive K+ channels. At higher concentrations (> 3 μM), it may additionally inhibit the receptor-mediated, GTP-binding protein-coupled phosphatidyl inositol turnover.     

Advances in processing of surface myoelectric signals: Part 1

During sustained voluntary or electrically elicted muscle contractions the surface myoelectric signal is nonstationary and it undergoes progressive changes reflecting the modifications of the motor unit action potentials and their propagation velocity. In particular, during sustained electrical stimulation, the evoked signals show progressive amplitude, time scaling and shape modification. The quantitative evaluation of these changes is important for non-invasive muscle characterisation and may be performed in either the time or frequency domain using parametric and nonparametric spectral analysis as well as alternative methodologies. The paper introduces the detection techniques, reviews and compares the methods of spectral estimation based on FFT and autoregressive models, and discusses their applications and limitations in extracting information from the surface myoelectric signal with particular regard to myoelectric manifestations of localised muscle fatigue during sustained contractions.     

断腕再植术后手内在肌挛缩

探讨断腕再植术后手内在肌挛缩的发生率、治疗方法及预防。方法:作者总结了近24年内进行断腕再植并得到随访的63例资料,对其中发生手内在肌挛缩41例的发病机理、治疗结果及预防进行了分析和讨论。结果:63例断腕再植术后有41例发生手内在肌挛缩,发生率为65％。缺血时间超过16小时与16小时内的断腕再植术后手内在肌挛缩的发生率,两者差异有显著性意义(t=3.81,p<0.05)。二期行手内在肌手术矫正者效果不理想。结论:断腕再植术后手内在肌挛缩的处理关键在于预防。清创后用肝素化全血对离断手进行灌注,早期行手内在肌筋膜间区减压,将会取得较好的效果。     

Effects of Ethanol on the Contractile Function of the Heart: A Review

Chronic ethanol consumption leads to a number of alterations in the contractile function of the heart and is a leading cause of cardiomyopathy. Ethanol also has an acute negative inotropic effect mediated by direct interaction with cardiac muscle cells, although this action is often masked by indirect actions resulting from enhanced release of catecholamines in vivo. This article reviews the effects of ethanol on the contractile function of the heart. The specific targets affected by ethanol in cardiac muscle cells are discussed in terms of potential mechanisms underlying the depressions of contractility resulting from both acute and chronic actions of ethanol.     

改良松解术式治疗耻骨直肠肌综合征的临床观察(附31例报告)

目的:观察改良松解术式治疗耻骨直肠肌综合征的临床效果。方法:2004~2005年采用肛门后横切口耻骨直肠肌全束部分切断术治疗耻骨直肠肌综合征31例。结果:手术总有效率为96·8%。平均住院时间(10·58±2·35)d,平均切口愈合时间(12·16±2·08)d。结论:采用肛门后横切口耻骨直肠肌全束部分切断术的方法疗效确切,具有并发症少、切口愈合时间快和住院时间短的优点。     

Douleurs musculaires post-effort

DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness) occurs frequently in sport. DOMS usually develops 12-48 hours after intensive and/or unusual eccentric muscle action. They can be associated with decreased proprioception and range of motion, as well as maximal strength. DOMS disappears 2–10 days before complete functional recovery. Inflammation appears to be the most common explanation. DOMS should not be considered as an indicator of muscle damage but, rather, a sign of the regenerative process, which is well known to contribute to be increase muscle mass. If some treatments are well known to attenuate DOMS, none has been demonstrated to accelerate either structural or functional recovery.     

环指屈肌腱损伤吻接术前、后力学性能测试研究

研究正常环指屈肌腱拉伸力学性能和模拟屈肌腱损伤后吻接术后屈肌腱的力学性能,为临床提供生物力学参数。取10个手环指标本,解剖后暴露环指,将标本固定于电子万能试验机底座上,由钢丝绳吊钩沿屈肌腱纵行方向钩住、钢丝绳上端固定于试验机上夹头上,驱动机器,对标本进行拉伸实验,施加拉应力,直至屈肌腱断裂。对断裂后的屈肌腱模拟临床手术进行移位吻接,对10个标本做了腱与腱移位吻接。再对吻接后的标本进行拉伸实验。分别得出了正常组标本和吻接术后标本的拉伸最大载荷、应力、应变等数据。表明:屈肌腱腱与腱吻合组最大载荷、应力、应变均小于正常对照组,但模拟末端编织法吻接术腱与腱吻合组标本,仍具有较好的拉伸力学性能指标。     

Muscle cross-section measurement by magnetic resonance imaging

Summary Muscle cross-section areas were measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the thigh of a human cadaver,. the results being compared with those obtained by photography of corresponding anatomic macroslices. A close correlation was found between MRI and photographic evaluation, differences between the methods ranging from nil to 9.5%, depending on the scan position and the muscle groups. In vivo MRI measurements were performed on 12 female and 16 male students, the objectivity, the test-retest reliability and the variability of the MRI measurements being studied by fixing the scan position either manually or by coronary scan. The latter method appeared to be more objective and reliable. The coefficients of variation for muscle cross-section areas measured by MRI were in the range of those for the planimetry of given cross-section areas. Allowing for differentiation between several small muscle bundles in a given area, MRI proved to be a suitable method to quantify muscle cross-sections for intra- and interindividual analysis of muscle size.